Abuja, Nigeria – February 27, 2026 – Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami in correctional facilities pending the hearing and determination of fresh bail applications.
The ruling came on Friday following the re-arraignment of the trio by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo), contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Malami (first defendant) and his son Abdulaziz (third defendant) were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, while Asabe (second defendant) was ordered to the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre in Niger State.
The case was reassigned from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Abdulmalik, necessitating the re-arraignment. At the proceedings, prosecution counsel Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, sought leave to read the amended charges, highlighting corrections in Counts 11 and 12 where numeric figures were adjusted to align with amounts stated in words (e.g., N325 million instead of N325 billion in one instance, and N120 million instead of N120 billion in another). Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection to the substance of the amendments but urged a formal application, which the court granted.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts. Key allegations include:
Count 1: That Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of N1,014,848,500.00 in a Sterling Bank Plc account, knowing or reasonably ought to have known it constituted proceeds of unlawful activities (contrary to Section 21(c) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Act).
Count 5: Conspiracy among Malami, his son, and Asabe (an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited) to disguise the origin of N1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024 (contrary to Section 21 and punishable under Sections 18(2)(a) and 18(3)).
Count 6: Indirect control by Malami and his son of N1,362,887,872.96 through the same Union Bank account, knowing it was proceeds of unlawful activities (contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3)).
After the pleas, the prosecution requested a trial date and remand in custody. The defence noted that the defendants had been granted bail by Justice Nwite upon initial arraignment on December 30, 2025, with conditions perfected and no violations. They argued for continuation of the existing bail, emphasizing that all Federal High Courts constitute one court.
Prosecution conceded the prior bail but asserted the court's discretion to adopt previous terms or impose fresh ones for assurance of attendance. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the reassignment terminated the earlier bail, requiring fresh applications. She rejected an oral bail application due to the gravity of the allegations and directed formal filings. The court also ordered the prosecution to grant defence access to the defendants for trial preparation.
The matter was adjourned to March 6, 2026, for hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial.
This development follows the defendants' initial arraignment before Justice Nwite in late 2025, where they were remanded before securing bail. The EFCC alleges the funds involved unlawful activities, with some allegedly used to acquire properties and other assets. The defendants have consistently denied the charges.
The case has attracted significant public attention given Malami's prominent role in the previous administration. It runs parallel to separate proceedings involving Malami and his son on charges of terrorism financing and illegal firearms possession, where bail was granted on the same day in another ruling by the same judge.
Legal observers note that the remand order reflects judicial caution in high-profile financial crime cases, ensuring compliance while allowing due process for bail reconsideration. The EFCC maintains its pursuit of accountability in alleged proceeds of crime cases.
Further proceedings on March 6 will determine whether the defendants secure bail under new conditions or remain in custody pending trial.
